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Lincoln Blackwood

Produced for just one year, the Lincoln Blackwood represented the Ford Motor Company’s first effort to turn the pickup truck into a luxury vehicle. The Blackwood blended the body of a Ford F-150 SuperCrew with comforts and conveniences typically found in a premium sport utility vehicle. The truck’s hood and front fenders were borrowed from Lincoln’s largest SUV, the Lincoln Navigator.

Following a well-received debut at the 1999 North American International Auto Show, Ford released the Lincoln Blackwood onto the market in 2002 in hopes of competing with Cadillac’s new Escalade EXT sport utility truck. All Lincoln Blackwood models were produced at Ford’s Kansas City Assembly plant in Missouri.

The Lincoln Blackwood came in just one trim level and with a single monochromatic black color scheme. A 5.4-liter V-8 engine producing 300 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque, powered the four-door luxury truck. Only one transmission was offered: a four-speed automatic.

With an independent front suspension, load-leveling rear suspension, and variable rate shock absorber damping, the Blackwood was built to provide a smooth on-road ride. Ford also added a limited-slip rear differential and enough ground clearance for off-road usage, though the trucks were only available in rear drive.

The Lincoln Blackwood was better known for its long list of luxury amenities than it was for its utility as a pickup.

Features like a sleek, all-black color palette with rear pinstripes, a cargo bed lined in stainless steel, leather-trimmed black bucket seats, and Wenge wood accents, gave the Blackwood a distinctly high-end appearance when compared with other trucks on the market. Conveniences included a power-operated tonneau cover, a power sunroof, a tailgate with Dutch doors, and heated and ventilated front seats.

However, some criticized the Lincoln Blackwood for giving precedence to luxuries over practicality. Notably missing were options such as four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, while features like the stainless steel bed limited versatility.

Lincoln Blackwood Features

The short-lived Lincoln Blackwood was available in 2002 in the United States and in 2002 and 2003 in Mexico. Just 3356 of the trucks were manufactured during a 15-month production run.

The 2002 Lincoln Blackwood was powered by a 5.4-liter DOHC V-8 engine capable of making 300 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque. The engine was paired to a four-speed automatic transmission.

In build, the Blackwood essentially combined the sloped hood, fenders, and doors of Lincoln’s luxury SUVs with the body and bed of Ford’s F-series. However, a solid black color scheme, Dutch door tailgate, and silver pinstripes along the bed, gave the Blackwood a distinctive appearance.

Luxe details included a snugly-fitted power tonneau cover and a bed constructed of stainless steel and lined in plush carpeting. The 2002 Lincoln Blackwood was only available with one option, a satellite navigation system mounted to the truck’s console.

The Lincoln Blackwood measured 220 inches in length and 78 inches in width and offered 7.9 inches of ground clearance. Inside, the driver and front passenger received 38.5 inches of head room, 41 inches of leg room, 61.3 inches of hip room, and 64 inches of shoulder room. Rear passengers received 39.2 inches of headroom, 37.4 inches of leg room, 58.4 inches of hip room, and 64 inches of shoulder room.
The Blackwood had a maximum towing capacity of 8700 pounds. Its EPA-estimated fuel economy was 11/15 mpg city/highway.

Lincoln Blackwood Evolution

In addition to the single-trim 2002 Lincoln Blackwood, Ford released 50 special Neiman Marcus Edition Blackwoods to coincide with the release of the 2001 Neiman Marcus spring catalog. Like other versions, the Neiman Marcus model was solid black. It featured headrests stitched with the retailer’s logo, a leather-trimmed rear console lid containing a seven-inch Panasonic widescreen DVD and CD player with wireless headphones, and a built-in cooler and warmer.